The patients excluded from the study were those who: 1. did not agree to participate, 2. were treated with steroidal drugs, 3. had cortisol metabolism disorders or were treated with drugs with a potential impact on serum cortisol concentration, 4. had a preoperative risk assessment result of ASA class III, IV and V, 5. had an initial surgical laparoscopic technique converted to laparotomy, and 6. had surgical complications increasing the level of intraoperative stress.